New waterfront restaurant, Boondocks, opening Saturday

Nightlife is moving to the shore of the Taunton River, under the looming presence of the Braga Bridge. The opening of Boondocks on Saturday at 46 Water St. is just the latest example of that. The band Dirty Deeds will be the first act to take the stage, owner Richard Salvatore said.

Nightlife is moving to the shore of the Taunton River, under the looming presence of the Braga Bridge. The opening of Boondocks on Saturday at 46 Water St. is just the latest example of that.

“People want to be on the water, or near the water, so this area is coming back,” said Michael Lund, who operates several businesses right on the water in that neighborhood.

“This area is coming back slowly, but it is coming back. There are still people willing to make an investment here.”

Lund is an example. He operates Borden Light Marina and the seasonal Tipsy Seagull right on the water. He and his father bought a vacant mill building directly across Ferry Street and opened the Tipsy Toboggan, a restaurant and bar, in December. They also operate a marine consignment store and several more businesses are moving in, including a boxing gym for women.

Just up the street, Richard Salvatore is finishing work on Boondocks, in the space that formerly held the Waterstreet Cafe, 46 Water St.

The AC/DC tribute band Dirty Deeds will play at the grand opening on Saturday. Live music is planned for Saturday and Sunday nights, a DJ planned for Wednesdays and Thursdays and a live jam is planned for Sunday afternoons. There will be pub foods and a bar including 12 beers on tap, Salvatore said.

Less than 100 yards away, a team of city restaurateurs from Trio, Mesa 21 and the Cultural Center have taken over the former United, 85 Anawan St.

The space has been extensively renovated with plans for a pub offering food. The owners of the bar could not be reached for comment.

“You are starting to see a cluster of restaurant and entertainment venues, all doing relatively well,” said Ken Fiola, executive vice president of the Fall River Office of Economic Development. “It started with a few original pioneers down there — the Narrows and the Tipsy Seagull. Now, you are starting to see some synergy.

“The more you get down there, the better it is for everyone. All the establishments are helping each other.”

“You have the success of the Narrows. Something like that opens the city up,” Lund said. “Plus, the economy is improving and people realize Fall River has something to offer.

“When the Route 79 work is done, it will be easy to get here. This area will become the nucleus for entertainment in the city.”

“Timing is important,” said Patrick Norton, executive director of the Narrows. “Mr. (Anthony) Cordeiro’s Commonwealth Landing project did a lot to raise awareness of the waterfront. Mike Lund has done that, too.

“Smart business people get ahead of the wave. Right now, you are seeing smart people with some money and entrepreneurship coming into this area. It won’t be immediate, but it is happening.”

Page 2 of 2 - Nightlife can be turned into daytime business, especially once Route 79 is completed and the area is easier to get to, Norton said.

“Battleship Cove is a great facility with a lot to offer,” he said. “Day trips is where it is at for Fall River. If we can just get a few people off the highway every day, we can succeed that way.”

“When people come into our waterfront, they see other things being offered and are more likely to come back,” Fiola said. “This is all, slowly, starting to come together. It is good for the city.”